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• mountain
  mountain

  noun

  a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill, usually greater than 2,000 feet (610 meters).
• Mountain
  Mountain

  noun

  an extremist faction during the French Revolution led by Danton and Robespierre

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mountain

American  

[maun-tn] / ˈmaʊn tn /

noun

• mountains
  plural

1. a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill, usually greater than 2,000 feet (610 meters).

2. a large mass of something resembling this, as in shape or size.

3. a huge amount.

   a mountain of incoming mail.

4. (initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

5. Also called mountain wine. British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.

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adjective

1. of or relating to mountains.

   mountain air.

2. living, growing, or located in the mountains.

   mountain people.

3. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.

idioms

1. make a mountain out of a molehill. molehill.

Mountain ¹ British  

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

1. an extremist faction during the French Revolution led by Danton and Robespierre

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mountain ² British  

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

1. 1. a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a hill and often having a rocky summit

   2. ( as modifier )

      mountain people

      mountain scenery

   3. ( in combination )

      a mountaintop

2. a huge heap or mass

   a mountain of papers

3. anything of great quantity or size

4. a surplus of a commodity, esp in the European Union

   the butter mountain

5. informal a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome

6. See molehill

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mountain Scientific  

/ moun′tən /

1. A generally massive and usually steep-sided, raised portion of the Earth's surface. Mountains can occur as single peaks or as part of a long chain. They can form through volcanic activity, by erosion, or by uplift of the continental crust when two tectonic plates collide. The Himalayas, which are the highest mountains in the world, were formed when the plate carrying the landmass of India collided with the plate carrying the landmass of China.

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mountain More Idioms  

1. see if the mountain won't come to Muhammad; make a mountain out of a molehill.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undermountain
  noun
• mountainless
  adjective
• submountain
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mountains
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mountain

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mountaine, from Old French montaigne, from Vulgar Latin montānea (unrecorded), noun use of feminine of montāneus (unrecorded), from Latin montān(us) “mountainous” (from mont-, stem of mōns “hill, mountain” + -ānus -an ) + -eus, adjective suffix

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Explanation

A mountain is a large and often steep landmass that's much higher than the surrounding area. It's not to be confused with a molehill. The word mountain has been around since the 1200s. A mountain is much larger than an average hill; it's a mass of land that rises up to 2000 feet or so. Mountain does not always describe a land mass. It can also be used to refer to an undertaking, a pile of something, or even a large dose of trouble. You might have a mountain of mashed potatoes you don't want to eat, or a mountain of homework.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mountain Mountain mountains

He compared the Catholic mission to the "steep ascents" of the Inca Trail in Peru, where he spent two decades as a missionary, visiting remote mountain communities.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026

A mountain range, for example, might divide a population and prevent individuals on opposite sides from mating.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

Eagle Mountain is a frontier city at the base of several mountain ranges, an hour southwest of Salt Lake City.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

In a warehouse next to the A14 in Kettering, a mountain of crumpled fabric is slowly fed into a machine.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

Joey is no longer able to conceal her condition, so she quietly moves to Baguio, a mountain town north of Manila, to be treated by doctors in secret.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

The plant employed more than 700 people and accounted for about 15% of the jobs in Eagle Mountain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

Mountain lions in particular are suffering from the effects of inbreeding.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Its contemporary design is defined by glass walls boasting breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain, as the surrounding landscape creates a serene environment in every inch of the home.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

"You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly," he added, referring to a suspected underground nuclear complex.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Balthilda presented me with two knitted sweaters, one with many colors interwoven, and one green, bright but somehow calm, like spring on The Mountain.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

"It's terrible," Candopoulos said with a sigh, standing on the docks of the small port of Seward, a municipality surrounded by snow-capped mountains along the shores of the North Pacific.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026

There, just being by the ocean, you can turn around and see the mountains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

Temperatures will, generally, be a little higher but incursions of cold air could continue to bring some wintry weather over Scottish mountains.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

"There's nothing here – just mountains," as one character puts it.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Tala Leprosarium is located in the isolated foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains on 1,500 acres of rich, rolling land and sloped terrain.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Related Words

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• bluff
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• volcano

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